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Sungold tomatoes outside?

sandyvsandyv Posts: 116
in Fruit & veg
Last year I grew them in the unheated greenhouse - fruit tasty but very small. I notice this year on the label it says they are best grown outdoors - really?. Any opinions please?
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Mine were fine inside. I can't grow tomatoes outdoors here, so they'll just have to get on with it whether they like it or not  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Sungold won't grow fruits any bigger than about 3cm no matter how they are grown, as they are genetically programmed to be that size.  You can indeed grow them outdoors but depending on where you are, the cropping season will be much shorter as they can't be planted outside until about June in most of the UK and will die when the temps start regularly dropping below 10C which can be as soon as early September.  In an unheated greenhouse, they will often still be carrying ripened fruit in December.
    I always grow too many sungold plants so some end up planted outside and those do reasonably well, but growing any type of tomato outside in the UK is always a bit of a gamble IME.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I doubt they are best grow outside.
    Tomatoes need temps betwee 12c and 30c.
    Sungold are a cherry tomato - so don't expect big fruits
    I have had very good results in my unheated greenhouse with sungold.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • sandyvsandyv Posts: 116
    Thanks for the comments, as I expected greenhouse is probably better. I know they are cherry tomatoes, and therefore small, but mine were pea sized and I don't know why.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I grow Sungold outside every year and they’re fine ... certainly much bigger than peas. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Hmm, pea-sized isn't right for sungold, no matter whether grown under glass or outside.  There must be something else going on, maybe soil/nutrition or light levels.  Does the greenhouse get plenty of sunlight?  Do you grow them in pots (size?) or in the greenhouse border soil?  What compost did you use, if in pots?
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Mine will be going outside as soon as it's warm enough at nights (no greenhouse or conservatory). This is the first time I've grown Sungold but other cherry types do OK so fingers crossed they'll be fine.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I used to grow mine outside in pots ... now I plant them in the veg patch. They’re fine 👍 🍅 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Definitely something wrong if they were only pea sized @sandyv.
    They should be around an inch [old money  ;) ] so more info would be helpful as @BobTheGardener indicates. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Janie BJanie B Posts: 963
    First-time Sungold-grower here, too, as I'd heard so many good things about them... following this thread with interest, thanks...
    Lincolnshire
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